EDITORIAL: Feb. 14 - Anti-discrimination ordinance is long overdue

More than a decade after a human rights ordinance was shot down in a noisy referendum, Royal Oak city commissioners are close to approving another to ban discrimination in housing and employment against gays and other groups.

This time it appears they'll enact it themselves instead of asking voters to decide.

That's an improvement on the lack of leadership displayed by that previous city commission.

The elected officials a few days ago tentatively approved a seven-page ordinance that would prohibit discrimination against a person for sexual orientation, gender identify and a host of other listed reasons in matters of public accommodation and housing.

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Sexual orientation, the most important factor in the list, was the sticking point in 2001. Outside groups and outside money contributed to the noise and in the end, the proposed ordinance was shot down by voters. One of those who campaigned against it is now a state legislator who sponsored a bill a year or so ago which would have prevented cities from adopting such ordinances, in the guise of simplifying state laws. That proposal, we hope, is dead or languishing.

The Royal Oak ordinance approved on first reading last month probably isn't the final version.

Commissioners want more input on the provisions as well as how to deal with complaints. Mayor Jim Ellison wants to consider creating a human rights commission. Commissioner Jim Rasor wants to consider adding protection for other reasons, health considerations included.

The only dissenter, David Poulton, said a resolution rather than an ordinance is sufficient in a community already regarded as tolerant.

He has a point.

But an ordinance makes a stronger statement about tolerance, in much the same way that strong anti-bullying laws and programs make a statement against that practice.

At this point, it appears that the city commission will adopt the ordinance in some form, adding Royal Oak to a list of Michigan communities, including Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo and Detroit.

Once adopted, it's still subject to a petition process and resulting referendum.

But Royal Oak, like much of the nation, has become more tolerant on matters of sexual orientation.

Commissioners should make useful changes and adopt the ordinance. It's overdue.